RECENT ADVANCES IN THE GYRO CENTRIFUGAL VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE

The gyro pump was developed as an intermediate-term assist pump (C1E3) as well as a long-term centrifugal ventricular assist device (VAD). T he antithrombogenic design concept of this pump was confirmed througho ut three 1 month ex vivo studies. The normalized index of hemolysis (N IH) of this gyro C1E3 model was lower than that of the BP-80. In the n ext step, a miniaturized centrifugal blood pump (The Gyro permanently implantable model PI-601) has been developed for use as a permanently implantable device after design optimization. A special motor design o f the magnet circuit was utilized in this system in collaboration with the University of Vienna. The priming volume of this pump is 20 mL. T he overall size of the pump actuator package is 53 mm in height, 65 mm in diameter, 145 mi of displacement volume, and 305 g in weight. This pump can provide 5 L/min against 120 mm Hg total pressure head at 2,0 00 rpm. The NIH value of this pump was comparable to that of the BP-80 . The gyro PI-601 model is suitable for a VAD. The expected life from the endurance study is approximately 8 years. The evolution from C1E3 to the PI-601 converts this pump to a totally implantable centrifugal pump. Recent technologic advances in continuous flow devices are likel y to realize a miniaturized and economical totally implantable VAD.